slide patient portal

What are the different types of patient portals?

There are two main types of patient portals: a standalone system and an integrated service. Integrated patient portal software functionality usually comes as a part of an EMR system, an EHR system or practice management software. But at their most basic, they're simply web-based tools.

What is the function of a patient portal?

A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password, patients can view health information such as: Recent doctor visits. Discharge summaries.

Can you look up patients online?

The information a physician would find through a simple Google search or scan of the patient's social media accounts is not confidential; to the contrary, it is publicly available for anyone to see. Thus, there is no issue regarding a breach of confidentiality.

What should be included in a patient portal?

A robust patient portal should include the following features:Clinical summaries.Secure (HIPAA-compliant) messaging.Online bill pay.New patient registration.Ability to update demographic information.Prescription renewals and contact lens ordering.Appointment requests.Appointment reminders.More items...

Who uses patient portals?

Hospitals and other health care organizations can facilitate patient access to their EMR information through patient portals. Patient portals can provide secure, online access to personal health information [1] such as medication lists, laboratory results, immunizations, allergies, and discharge information [2].

Why do patients not use patient portals?

This is due to a lack of internet access. According to the AMA, 25% of people don't use a patient portal because they don't have internet access. Over one in six people in poverty don't have internet access. Lower-income people in rural areas face even more limitations.

Is it illegal to Google your patient?

Option B: Don't Google the patient; it's a violation of HIPAA. This is often used to mechanistically intimidate practitioners into not Googling, although the psychiatrist is technically not “exchanging information” in that he is not disclosing any protected health information about the patient.

Is it wrong to Google your patients?

Googling your patients does not violate HIPAA. You are acting as an observer of information rather than posting a patient's information online yourself. Regardless of the fact that doing some online research into your patients' pasts isn't technically illegal, it still should not be taken lightly.

Is it illegal to look up patients on social media?

Researching a patient online, then, is not a breach of PHI. HIPAA was enacted to legally protect patient privacy by limiting use and disclosure of PHI, thus legislating providers to keep confidentiality. However, public online searches are not prohibited by HIPAA regulations.

What information is excluded from patient portals?

However, it also had to exclude behavioral health, protected minor visits, research records, business records, and other sensitive record content. The portal automatically downloads or excludes documents based on type or provider, says Meadows, who helped solidify a process for integrating the portal with the EHR.

What are the five main features of the new healthcare portal?

To help you get started, here are five key features that the best patient portal solutions have to offer:Excellent user experience. ... Branding flexibility. ... Flexible financing options. ... Loyalty rewards and incentives. ... Integration with existing systems.

How secure are patient portals?

Without proper encryption methods, login redundancies and detection tools, portals are almost as easily accessible to hackers as they are to authorized users. As their usage grows, that lack of security will become an exponentially greater threat to patients' PHI and identities.

What are the five main features of the new healthcare portal?

To help you get started, here are five key features that the best patient portal solutions have to offer:Excellent user experience. ... Branding flexibility. ... Flexible financing options. ... Loyalty rewards and incentives. ... Integration with existing systems.

Which of the following is a benefit of patient portals?

Patient portals make tasks such as requesting prescription refills and referrals easier and more convenient leads to greater patient compliance – and when patients follow doctors' orders, clinical outcomes improve.

What are the 5 main features of the new healthcare portal army?

Five key features to look for in an EHR patient portalEasy to follow user interface. ... Messaging and communication. ... Registration. ... Scheduling. ... Enhanced security.

What are the pros and cons of patient portals?

From better patient engagement to difficulty with patient buy-in, patient portals present numerous challenges and benefits to enhance quality of care.Pro: Better communication with chronically ill patients.Con: Healthcare data security concerns.Pro: More complete and accurate patient information.More items...•